Who Will Protect Our Children’s Privacy?

President Obama is in his final months in office and pressing to continue his promise to “fundamentally transform” America. This time, rather than use his “pen and phone” and Executive Orders, he had his Department of Justice and Department of Education issue strong-armed “guidance” to public school districts across America, requiring them to accommodate self-proclaimed “transgendered” students, under the intimidating threat of lawsuits and a loss of federal funding.

To do this, these federal departments had to re-interpret the 1972 Title IX educational amendment terminology to say that “sex” no longer means only “male or female,” but also included a new category, “transgender.” Now, according to this administration, federally funded schools are obligated to provide students access to restrooms, locker rooms, and other facilities and activities in accordance with their self-proclaimed gender identity.

Understandably, this sudden and radical, federal decree—affecting our children from elementary grades through college—has caused concern and chaos at the local levels. Parents, pastors, principals and School Boards are reacting negatively. Governors and Attorney Generals are officially resisting. Religious broadcasters and family advocates are posting and broadcasting their righteous indignation:

Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council (FRC), called the directive “absolutely outrageous” and “an overreach of federal power.”

Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, stated that “Instead of working through the normal legislative system, they’ve simply issued what amounts to an edict from on high.”

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Senior Counsel Jeremy Tedesco similarly noted in a statement, “Solutions exist to accommodate everyone without violating anyone’s privacy rights, but the administration won’t entertain those solutions because of its preference to unlawfully impose its political will through threats and intimidation.”

Jim Daly commented: “No one concerned about opening up bathrooms and showers to the opposite sex is questioning the inherent worth and value of young people who struggle with their gender identity. We all agree they should be protected from harm and harassment, and treated with the utmost compassion. But,” he added, “this can and should be done without sacrificing commonsense policies that protect all children…one that does not ignore the privacy concerns of other students.”

According to SaveCalifornia.com, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports homosexual men “have higher rates of STDs such as syphilis and HIV.” The promotion of transsexuality to schoolchildren flies in the face of CDC facts, which report that “transgender persons” are a fraction of one percent of the population, but have the highest percentage of new HIV infections. Save California’s Randy Thomasson says, “It’s time for honest people to recognize that this behavior is unhealthy and should be discouraged, not promoted, to impressionable children.”

The privacy and protection of our children are at the bottom line, where common sense needs to prevail. The greatest concern is the threat posed by sexual predators, who will exploit such bathroom accommodations.

Gary Curtis is a recently retired minister who writes a blog, where he seeks to relate a biblical worldview regarding societal issues of public interest.
Trying to be “salt and light,” as Jesus commands, these brief blog-posts are primarily pro-life, pro-family and pro-religious liberties, while also speaking up for the people and nation of Israel.